Railway draft



March 8, 1932.

E. GEORGE, JR

RAILWAY DRAFT APPLIANCE Filed Feb. 14, 1928 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 8, 1932. E. GEORGE, JR 1,848,522

l RAILWAY DRAFT APPLIANCE Filed Feb. 14, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 III IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Ill;

| L L J l' March 8, 1932. E. GEORGE, JR

' RAILWAY DRAFT APPLIANCE Filed Feb. 14, 1928 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 umm | lnlnulnlllnlnnlu lllllllllllllllllllllll Hmm |lllnnllunllnulllllu l||lllllllllllllllllllnm Stimmen# March 8, 1932. l E. GEORGE, JR 1,848,522

RAILWAY DRAFT APPLIANCE Filed Feb. 14, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 E4 da@ a;

March 8, 1932. E. GEORGE, JR

' RAILWAY DRAFT APPLIANCE Filed Feb. 14, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 March 8, E'. GEORGE, JR

RAILWAY DRAFT APPLIANCE Filed Feb. 14, 1928 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 12. n r ||||||||||||||1| J ll l :mnmulnulllllummllllllllunlll EIlllllllllIIIHIIIIIIIIIElllllllllllllllll Patented Mar. 8, 1932 .U'TELFD stare-'s PATENT ortica lI1l\TOZ-`1Ef: Grp-Q40RGr-E,4 JvRa, OF PITTSBURGH,- PENNSYLVANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE LECCONNAY t TORLEY COMPANY, 0F PITTSBURQGH,v PENNSYLVANA; A; COREORATON OF PENN-k sYLvANIA ItAICl'iW'AY DRAFT APPLIANCE 4 Application ined February 14, i928. sei-iai No. 254,267'.

My invention relates to 'railway draft appliances, and particularly to means for mounting upon freight cars and tenders longitudinally movable couplers whichA are formed with enlargedbutts. 'll'ielprincipa'l Object of the invention' is to provide meansforl effectively supporting a sprinoncushioned coupler of the character indicated in. a manner' such that Vit may be readily removed whenever replacement becornes necessary.

Where freight cars andv locomotive tenders are'vprovided with couplers associated With spring-cushion mechanism allowing the couplers to reciprocate, it is the common prac'- tice tolocate the coupler carrier to thel rear ofthe coupler head a distance sui'licient to afford the clearance required to enable the coupler o movev rearwardly the full amount of the normal travel of the draft gear, plus an allowance4 for wear. As this location' of the carrier is considerably to the rear of the center of gravity of the coupler, the latter .naturally tends to droop at the head end and,

consequently, as the means provided for attaching' the coupler' tothe draft gear' wear this droop increases in extent.

To provide for theV proper operation of couplers in the act of coupling, and also to afford requisite flexibility for vertical and horizontal angling, couplers are formed with contours providing horizontal clearance between' opposing couplers when the latter' are in coupled relation. If the couplers are allowedv to droopthis clearance' is in effect reduced and the flexibility between adjacent couplers is reduced accordingly. If permitted to become excessive drooping also seriously affects the operation ofthe couplers in the act of coupling,` so that, in order to rvinsure proper 'and' eiiicient operation, it is important to maintain the couplersv horizon# tal.. Itis also desirable that this result should be attainedk by means permitting the couplers to be readily removed and replaced in the'event of breakage and itis likewise advantageous that vthe meansy provided for the purpose shall be of a nature permitting couplers ofstandard formto be employed for purposesof'repair as. delays arising from 1nability to obtain special parts are thereby avoided. p

Generally stated, the principal featurel of the invention consists in securing to a freight car or locomotive tender a coupler mounting formed with an opening for receiving the shank of a car coupler and permitting it to reciprocate in draft and hufi'ing therethrough, the opening being of a size and form enabling the coupling to be withdrawn when it is disconnected fromthe draft gear and the mounting being provided with a carrier adapted to slidably engage the under surface of the coupler head so as to support the coupler in horizontal position during its reciprocating movements.

Another feature of the invention consists in so forming the coupler mounting that isv secured to thel freight car or locomotive tender that the opening thereof for receiving thev shank ofthc car coupler'is adapted to permit the insertion and withdrawal of a coupler having' an enlarged butt; means being provided for sli'dably engaging the under surface .of the coupler head so as to support the coupler in horizontal position during draft and bu'iiin'g movements, and provision being made whereby a carrier located in the usual position may be employed if desired in case the special forni of coupler is not immediate'- ly available for repairs. l

Other features of the invention pertaining to oarticular coiiibinationsand advantafreous details ofy construction will hereinafter appear and be pointed out-in the claims.

In the drawings illustrating preferred einbodiments of the invention,

Figure l is a plan view of .a draft appli ance embodying the invention, shown asy applied to a locomotive tenderlfi'ame, the car coupler beingof the pivoted type and provided with an enlarged butt enabling it to' have a quadruple shear connection withv the draft yoke;

FigjQ is af view, partly in side elevation andpartly inverticial section, of the'construc'- tion'shown inv Fig. 1;;1

Fig. 3' isa detail' elevational view of the central portion of the tender franie,the relayso tive position of the shank of the car coupler being indicated in dot and dash lines; A

Fig.4 is a fragmentary plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a view, partly inV plan and partly f in horizontal section, showing the invention as Aapplied to a striking casting, the butt of the couplerbeing formed with liner` blocks; Fig. 6 is a view illustrating the construction' shown in Fig. 5, the striking casting'being in vertical central -section and thefcar coupler being in side elevation;

Fig. 7 isa detailed sectional view illustrating a modification of the coupler carrier por 'striking casting;

1F ig. 12is a detailed section on theline 12-12, Fig. 1l; V

Fig. 13 isa detail view, partly in front elevation and partly in vertical section, sho-wing still another modification ofthe striking casting illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6;

' F ig.Y 14 is a detailed vsectional View on the line114-14, Fig. 13'; f y V Y Fig. 15 is a front elevation of another type of striking casting embodying the invention;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view on the line 16-16, Fig. 15;;

Fig. l-is a plan view of the striking casting shown inFig. 15; l f V Fig. 18 is a detailed view showing in verticalcentral section a modified form of the coupler supporting portionV of the tender frame illustrated in Fig. l; l 1

19 is affrontelevational view of the construction in Fig.` 18, a carrier iron in the usual position being shown as assembled therewith; y Y Y ig.20 is a section on the line 20-'20, Fig.

` ig. 21 is adetail view, partly in section and partly in front elevation, showing a modified form of the couplerf carrier portion of the 'striking casting illustrated in Figs. 5 and iFig. 22 is .a f sectional vviewV on the line 22-22, Fig. 21; 1 1

' Fig. 23 is a ,view'corresponding to Fig. 22, 'Y

but illustrating the use of a barforminga couplerl carrier locatedV in the usual position;

,Fig.24 is ak front elevationalv view ofa striking casting having detachab'ly connect- 25-25, Fig. 24;

. ing inquadruple shear. l Theopening 4 in the casting 1 .is of sufiici- Y ed thereto a carrier adapted to support a reciprocating coupler-'by engaging the under side of the coupler head;

Fig. 25 is a sectional view on. the line Fig. 26 isaplan viewof the construction shown in Fig.' 24; *Y y Y Fig. 27 is a viewy corresponding'to Fig. 25, but showing a `common form' of coupler car- 'rier associated with a strikingfplate in Vsubstitution for the special carrier;

Fig. 28 is a plan view of a portion vof another formof tender'frame casting showing the invention applied thereto;

i, Fig. `Ois"k a front elevation; ofthe construction shown, in Fig. 28, the position ofthe coupler. shank fbeing indicated by fdot"` and. 5

V t Y A V 8 Fig. 31 kis a view, partly in plan and partly dash lines; f

in horizontal section showing fa coupler with an enlarged end Yassociated with a: striking:` 'casting of substantially the same'form as that shown in Fig. 5, the rear end ofthecoupler being adapted for quadruple shear connection with the draft yoke; "A

Fig. 32 is a view, partly in vertical section and partly in side elevation, of the construction shown in Fig. 31

F `g. 33 is a front elevational view ofthe tender frame casting illustrated Vin Figs. 31 y and 32,vv the position of the coupler shank with respect thereto being shown in dot and dash lines;

Fig. 34 is a sectional view on the line 34-34, I Fig. 32. y

The construction illustratedin Figs-1 to 4 inclusiveV represents Vthe applicationof my invention to a large Acombinatioi'i casting forming an underframe, the particularcasting illustrated being apframe for a locomo-Y tive tender. Except asV otherwise indicated,

this tender frame' casting limay-he'made of any form required to embody` in-it the necessary detail parts, the form here illustrated being one which 1s in use to a considerable extent at the present time. It is provided with rearwardly extending spaced draft arms F'gf29 is a sectionon the line 29-29, Fig.

ico

2, `affordingstops 3 lfor the forward draft 'n l f gear follower (not shown). At its outer end I it is fashionedk with an opening 4 through which the shank 5 of the car coupler 6 exbutt fr' is in the Vformof spaced pivot lugs for 'topass-therethroughgl As shown, the coupler Y receiving' a' tail ,p in 8 to form v af pivotal con-V f necti'on with the` draft yoke-9, the tail pin beent widthtopermit the coupler to have the desired rangeofglateral swinging movementi;

It is preferably closedjat the bottoni by a cross tie' 10 which projectsforwardlyso yas y fording a coupler carrier 11 integrally united tothe casting 1.`

Instead of having the coupler carrier 11 vsupport the coupler by Ibearing directl against the coupler head it is preferred to employ av wear shoe 12 which in effect forms ,part of the carrier and may be of the well known channeled form having downwardly extending flanges. To permit the shoe 12 to be brought into assembled relation with the coupler carrier 11, -a suitable slot 13 is provided in the cross tie immediately to the rear f the carrier.

In order that the coupler head may be slidably supported on the shoe 12 of the carrier so as to be capable of reciprocating in draft and bufng, the under side ofthe coupler head is formed with a fiat'bearing surface or pad 1d which preferably lies in a horizontal plane meeting the striking face of the coupler at the lowest point of the latter. The bearing face or pad lll should not be located above the lower part of the striking, face of the coupler because suchv location would not afford sufficientclearance for the carrier to permit the coupler to execute full draft and bufling movement. y

VThe striking casting 15, shown in Figures 5 and 6, is designed for cooperation with a car coupler 16 whose shank' 17 is formed at the rear end with liner blocks 18. The special form of casting shown provides spaced draft arms 19 affording follower stops 2O for the forward follower of the draft gear (not shown). At its forward end the casting 15 is formed with an opening 21 through which the shank of the coupler extends and through which its enlarged butt may pass. A cross tie 22 formed integral with the casting and serving to close the bottom of the opening 21 projects forwardly so as to provide a coupler carrier 23 extending beneath the coupler head. rvAs in the construction heretofore described, the coupler head is formed on itsI under side with ahorizontal seat or pad 14.

adapted to be slidably supported upon thel wear shoe 12 mounted on the carrier. To permit the employment of the form of wear shoe 12 commonly used and therefore readily available for repairs, the cross tie 22 of the strikingcasting has a transversely extending.

slotl 24 for receiving thev inner depending flange of the shoe.` If desired, however, a wear shoe 25 of sufficient width to extend longitudinally*entirely across the upper surface of the'crosstie may be employed as sliown'in Figure 7. In this latter construction the cross tie 26 need not be provided with slot for receiving the inner flange of the wear shoe l As itis desir-able to be, able to make repairs in' an emergency by making use vof the present standard couplers, although. the heads oft the latter are unsuited for cooperation with a supporting carrier iron in the advanced position, it is advantageous to provide the striking casting wit-h means enabling a separate 'carrier to be a i lied thereto in the present standard location'. Means thus enabling such a separate carrier tobe employed in an emergency are illustrated in Figures 8, 9 and 10 wherein inwardly projecting lugs 2T at the bottom of the opening for the coupler shank' serve to support the ends of a transversely Aextending removable carrier 28 of the well known standard form illustrated in Figures 11 and 12. To receive the bolt 29 by which n this carrier is maintained in assembled position the striking casting is provided with appropriate holes 30. The wear shoe 12v which normally is mounted upon the coupler earrier 31 integral with the striking casting may, as shown in Figure 10, be transferred to the removable carrier 28 when the latter is used in an emergency.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated inFigures 11 and 12 the lower portion of the striking casting is formed toreceive a removable coupler carrier in either of two positions, one of those positions being such that the carrier extends beneath the coupler head associated therewith and the other being the usual location. For this purpose, and to permit a carrier 28 of well known form to be employed, the forwardly extending portions of the striking casting are provided on their inner sides at their outer ends with lugs or shoulders 82 corresponding in function to the lugs 27 disclosed in Figures 8, 9 and 10. These lugs support the coupler carrier 28 in its advanced position. Similar lugs 88, at a higher elevation and to the rear, likewise serve to support the carrier when the latter is transferred in position so as to enable it to support the present standard coupler in case of an emergency. In either position the coupler carrier is retained in assembled relation to the striking casting by means of a transversely extending bolt 341 passing through suitable apertures 35 arranged opposite each other in pairs. The usual wear shoe 12 is designed to be mounted upon the upper side of the coupler carrier. The striking casting 3G illustrated in these views may otherwise correspond in construction to the striking casting 15 of Figures 5 and 6.

Another advantageous manner of supporting the well known form of coupler carrier 28 upon the striking casting so that it may occupy a position beneath the coupler head or beneath the coupler shank, as occasion may require, is shown in Figures 18 and 1st.. The striking casting 37 illustrated in these figures is of the same general form as that shown in Figures 5 and 6, except that lugs 38 and bolt holes 89, corresponding respec- Figures l5, 16 and tively with lugsv33 and .openings 35 here? tofore described, are provided for supporting the carrier in its upper and rearward location, and except also that-'the forwardly ex# A'gage the padv or bearing surface 14 on they undersideof the coupler head (see Figs. l

and 2), is Vmounted upon the carrier in the'V usual manner. n l

17 disclose the invention as embodied in a striking casting unprovided with 'draft arms. This casting 42 is formed l with a marginal flange or base plate 43 where. byit may be secured 'to the c ar structureV and has upon its front facea projection 44' against which the coupler may strike. The opening 4 5 therein, through which the shank of the coupler project-s, is sufficiently high to permit fa coupler having an enlarged butt to be inserted and withdrawn. rlhe opening 45 is closed at le bottom by a cross tie 46 which extends forwardly and is formed at its outer end to' provide a coupler carrier 47. adapted to stand beneath the couplerhead.- The rigid portion 47 of the carrier is preferably, of a form adapting" it Vto be associated with the well known type of wear shoe i2. f Vi7ith the exception'of he wear shoe all the parts are formed as an integral casting.V i

The coiistmictionv shown in Figures 18, `19 and 2O is a modification kof that shown in Figures vl to 4 inclusive. In this modifica n tion the lower portionrof the striking casting 48 is provided with means for permitting a removable coupler carrier 49to be mounted thereon in a position permitting it toengage and support the shank of the present standard coupler. The means shown for this pur-f pose consist of inwardlyprojecting shelves or/lugs v50V having suitable holes for receiving the bolts 5l by which the carrier is retained in asseinbledposition. It is to be understood,

ofcourse, thatthe carrier 49 is not to be user in case a coupler having a'suitable bearing surface on its under side such, for example,

as the seat or pad 14, is available. or the purpose of Vcooperating*with a coupler provided with the necessary bearing surface on its underside the striking casting is fashioned at its .lower end with the carrier 52. carrier [which vis in the 'advanced position is preferably protected' from wear by a shoe l2 V:tending transversely the full length of the carrier 52. Other details of construction of the fstriking castingf48 'may correspond to those disclosed in Figures. l to 4 inclusive.

'lfhezopening 5,8, through which the couplerV extends, is of sufficient size to permit -a cou-A pler having an enlargedlbutt tobe inserted andA withdrawn whenthe removable "carrier '49 is not in place.l

Figures 2l, 22 and 2.3 villustrate a' modification ofthe striking casting of Figures 5 and' V6, whereby means are provided to permita standard couplervto be employed in case an emergency makes it necessary. In this form of the invention a` striking casting 54 is provided at opposite sides of the coupler opene ing 55 with horizontally aligned openings 56, preferably of rectangular form,'to receive a transversely extending bar 57 of correspond-y ing cross section. When in position this bar is adapted .to enga-ge the .under surface of the shank of a standard coupler so as to form a carrier therefor. lit is retain-ed in positionY by bolts 58V extending through perforated lugs 59 on the outer faces of the striking casting adjacent the corresponding Vopenings 56.

.The opening 55 is of sufficient size to kpermit a couplerhavingy an enlarged butt to be assembled and `disassembled as has heretofore been explained. ln other respects, the structural features of the striking `casting 5400rr'espond in form and function withsimilar parts ofthe striking casting, l5 heretofore described and accordingly vsimilar features of constructionhave been identified by Vcorresponding reference numerals. Figures 24, 25 and26 show a well known form of striking castingk .6() equipped with a coupler carrier iember embodying .the invention.` In this form of the device, the lower end of the coupler receiving opening 61 is closed by yoke or cross tie member 62 rigidlysecured tok the striking casting Aby lbolts 63, the portionv of the cross tie which is below the opening 61 bei-ng recessed or depressed suiiiciently to permit a'coupler having an enlarged butt,

Y shank of the usual standard coupler.

Figures 28, 29aand30V illustrate a form of Y the invention showing a carrier providing forward support for the coupler andwhich is so designed that it may be substituted for the usual lcarrier without any change in strikingcasting orother parts of the-car. The striking casting here illustrated is in the formof a Vlocomotive tender frame casting i 66 in common use. In place of the'usualcarf Arier there is associated with theV tenderl cast-V ing a special carrier member` 67,. bolts .68v

i being employed to i form a rigid lconnection betweenwthese parts. '.Theupper surface of ias at 70, to provide 4clearance' permitting; the

.particularly s y are designed to be connected to the draft yoke insertion and withdrawal of acouplerhaving an enla d butt, this construction being uta-bleA couplers whose; butts in quadruple shear. The member y67 .extends forwardly to .provide a coupler carrier member'r l positioned beneath and 'adapted to sup- 'with a couple-rhaving an enlargedl end ofthe character necessary'for quadruple shear connection tothe draft yoke, the casting being sok proportioned that kthe distance from the back ofthe striking `bracket I2'of the coupler to the front face 'of the front follower is the saine as in the present staiidaid freight coupler. fro s the casting l5 heretofore described in that the reinforcing web 74, upon its interior, is somewhat shortened to afford necessary clearance for the enlarged butt 75 and draft yoke 76.

It will be appreciated that the invention permits the use of couplers having enlarged rear ends 'of the liner block type, thus gaining theadvantage of providing a greater surface of the coupler in contact with the follower or other cooperating part of the draft gear and thereby minimizing the upsetting or wear that occurs between those contacting parts as a result of service. It will also be appreciated that by causing the coupler carrier to cooperate with the head of the reciprocating coupler it becomes possible to design striking castings, and particularly large combinationcastings, affording much more space for quadruple shear or other comparatively large forms of connection of the rear of the couplershank to the draft yoke, because the obstruction resulting from the present location of the carrier is avoided and the upper portion of the casting can be shaped to suit conditions and provide the necessary strength. Vith the present location of carrier, when used in connection with couplers having short slianks such as the present standard length of freight couplers, this is not possible. lVhile the drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention in forms suitvable kfor application to many locomotive vto rlhis striking casting 73 differsv A,formed with a -wall extending under said shank and spaced downwardly with respect thereto'and including `a. coupler carrier eX- tending under and supporting said head and adapted tov slidably cooperate therewith, and the under surface of the head being formed withrv aaseat'for 4cooperating with said carrier, said seat being 'at an elevation not substantially/greater than that of the lowest point of the forward fece of the coupler head.

2.A ln a railway draft'appliance, the coinbination with a car vcoupler having a head and a shank formed with a vertically enlarged butt adapted to be connected to yoke actingnieans, of means for mounting the coupler on arailwayvehicle so as to permitit to reciprocate in vdraft and bufng in opposite direc-tions from normal position, said means being 'formed with lan opening for receiving said shank andftlirough` which said enlarged butt is adapted to pass and including a coupler'ca'rricr extending under and supporting .through permitting the-passage' of said enlargedbuttyand 'including a coupler carrier extending underand vsupporting said head and adapted to slidably cooperatetherewith, the lower wall of -said 'opening `being spaced downwardly with vrespect to said enlarged butt and 'being disposed'rearwardly 'of said carrier.

ln-a railway draft appliance, the combination with a car couplerihaving a head ,and a shank provided'at vits rear end with mea-ns for connecting'it to ka dra'ftyoke, of

`means 'for mounting the coupler on afrailway vehicle so as to permit it to reciprocate 'in draft andbuiiing inopposite directions from -normalpositiom said means including a meinber formed with an .opening through which lsaid shank extends andprovided with a coupler carrier .extending under and supporting said head and adapted to slidably coopeiateithei'eWith, said head liavingupon ,its under `surface ya seat for cooperating with the carrier, saidseat being in a horizontal planeiatleast las low as the lowest j'pointof the lstriking face of the coupler, and said openingbeing closed at'its lower end by a ,wall 'forniingxan integralzpart of said member.. and extending under said shank in spaced o coupler at apoint belowfthe under surface of relation thereto. c y o 5. Ina railway `draft appliance, the conibination with a car coupler havingV a head and a' shankformed with a vertically en-- flargedbutt, said coupler being adapted to Y be'rconnected'to a draft yoke, of'means `for mounting the coupler on a railway vehicle 1 soas tov permit it to reciprocate in draft and bufhng in opposite directions from normal position, said means includinga member pro- --vided with ak coupler carrier extending underand supporting said head, andvsaid mem'- ber having an opening therethrough permittingthe passage ofsaid enlarged butt, the

flower wall of saidopening forming an integral ypart of said' member and being spaced larged butt.

downwardly from the lower side of said en- 6. In a railway draft appliance, the combination with. a car coupler having a head and al shank formed with a vertically en- -larged butt, of means for mounting saidvcoui pler on a railway vehicle vseas to permit it Ytov reciprocate vin draft and bufing in oppositedirectionsfromrnormal position, said means including coupler supporting v-irneans Ymounted on the-,car and having an opening permitting thepassage of said butt, said coul :pler head beingprovided on its underside iatV a point'sp'aced downwardly with respect .Pto the under surface-of said enlarged butt l o with ya seatadapted to slidably engage the coupler supporting means` and theunder side Vof said enlarged buttvbeing spaced upwardly with respect to the bottom wall of said opening.

x7; In a vrailway draft appliance, the combination with a car coupler having a head `bination kwith a car coupler having a head the under side of said. shank andrwith respectY butt,'and coupler carrier means engaging the the enlarged buttQ. Y.

9. Ina railway draft appliance, the comand a shank formed 'with' a vertically en- 70 larged butt, offmeans for mounting thecoupleronl Va railway vehicle so as to-permit it to reciprocate in draft-andbuiiing in opposite directions from normal`v position, said means including a frame rigidly mounted on the car and providedwith integrally ccnnected upper and lower cross ties upon opposite sides of said shank and between which saidrbutt is adapted to pass and having a forwardly projecting portion .extending under the coupler h ea'd to form a coupler carrier cooperating with Ysaid head, said' lower cross tie being spaced downwardly with respect to to the'under side of said butt.

In testimony wherof I afiix my signature.

ENOCI-IV GEORGE, JR.-

Y ioo pler an a'railwav vehicle so as to permit it to Y j reciprocate in draft and buting lin opposite being formed with an opening having upper and lower walls ybetween which the shank extends and through which said enlarged butt is adapted to pass and includingcoupler carrier means extending under and Supporting the head. said lower wallandsaid carrier means being spaced downwardly with respect to the lower side of said renlarged butt.

8. Ina railway` draft appliance, the combination with a car coupler having a head anda shank formed lwith a verticallv enlargedr butt ladapted tobey connectedto a draft yoke,

directions from normal position, said means k frame provided with an opening having upper and lower walls spaced from saidshank and betweenywhichsaid butt is adapted to epass, said:l lower wall being spaced downwardly with respect to the lower side of said 

